Zebulon Baird Vance (1830-1894) was the 37th (1862-1865) and 43rd (1877-1879) Governor of North Carolina and served as the United States Senator (1879-1894). Born in Buncombe County, he attended law school at the University of North Carolina and in 1852, began practicing law in Asheville. This 75-foot tall obelisk is dedicated to him.
Vance was a major proponent of individual rights and local self-government. He opposed Confederate conscription practices and was often at odds with the Confederate government under Jefferson Davis.
Post war, he was elected to the United States Senate and then in 1876, elected Governor. An interesting footnote, he gave a speech which praised the Jews and called for religious tolerance and freedom among all Americans.
The town of Zebulon in Wake County (near Raleigh) is named for him, as is Vance County (central North Carolina, along the Virginia border).
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